Posted on 08/03/2021 7:53:58 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Simone Biles has won bronze in the women's balance beam final after pulling out of other events at the Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health issues.
The star gymnast received a score of 14.000 in her return to competition, placing her behind Chinese gymnasts Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing. It was the seventh Olympic medal for Biles, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most ever for an American gymnast.
"I didn't expect a medal today, I just wanted to go out there for me and that's what I did," Biles told reporters after receiving the bronze.
Teammate Suni Lee placed fifth after nearly losing her balance during her routine.
The 24-year-old Biles won bronze on beam in Rio de Janeiro five years ago and qualified for the eight-woman final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on the first weekend of the Games.
She removed herself from the team final on July 27 after a shaky performance on vault during the first rotation. She watched from the sidelines as her three American teammates completed the meet without her. The U.S. took silver behind the team known as the Russian Olympic Committee.
Biles qualified for all five individual event finals but took herself out of four of them: the all-around, vault, floor exercise and uneven bars. Lee earned the gold in the all-around, becoming the fifth straight American to claim the sport's marquee title.
After withdrawing from the team and individual all-arounds, Biles said she became disorientated while competing on vault, which gymnasts refer to as "the twisties." She explained that she started to have the problem after her qualifying round at the Games.
"It's honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind and body in sync," she said. "10/10 do not recommend."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
What a miraculous recovery from her mental health issues!
Athletes who are not mentally ‘well’... can compete in the ‘Special Olympics’
She’s been an amazing champion for years. I think falling pushed her into unknown territory and she was in shock, didn’t know how to handle it. I hope she retires from competition now. She’ll make a great coach for other gymnasts.
Sigh moan.
No. She stayed to support her team. And she still wanted to compete. Balance beam is the least jump around and spin around thing gymnasts do, the “easiest” to deal with the twisties. So she gave it a shot. And got a bronze. Good for her. Probably he last event of her career.
She had a serious (for a gymnast) condition. Very dangerous. Seems her body lost. “ muscle memory” somehow and she could not control her body in mid air. Scared her, understandably.
Why? Who knows ( my guess inner ear?). But the choice to compete again was significant to prove to herself she hadn’t completely lost it. Finish what you started!
Those who bitch about her should try the balance beam once.
Great coach? As in quit when it is personally advantageous, but screw the team, as long as you look good right?
“I’ve done that several times just going down the stairs.”
I was sprinting once, the ground was wet, made a sharp turn,and I slipped. I remember seeing tree canopies between my ankles. Could never figure out how that happened. I finally landed, required shoulder surgery.
I hereby officially award you a gold medal.
I thought the were representing The U.S. and their teammates.
Where I come from we call that a "sobriety test".
Exactly, especially since we will all soon be representing China.
Yep, but she'll have to answer questions about this for the next 50 years. It's her legacy unfortunately.
I’ll drink to that.
If an athlete develops anxiety and is competing in swimming, volleyball, track events, rowing and most other sports, I’d say suck it up and compete. But there is the chance of severe injuries in gymnastics. Gymnasts have become paralyzed, etc. I wish Biles’ anxiety had manifested itself before the Olympics so another gynmast could have taken her place. And once she pulled out of the team competition, she should not have competed in any individual competitions - she should have left the opportunity open for her teammates to medal.
I guess her and her horse weren’t born to jump.
I remembered when Louganis bumped his head on the platform on the way down, that could have really been much worse than it turned out to be, yeah, I don't care for his private life, but he's still the greatest diver ever.
Nothing like some competition to get you focused again.
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